Matrix-cleaning apparatus



.I. J. BURKE AND A. L. ADAMS.

MATRIX CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1916.

l L F i Mucnlm L/ $313M ch 021N135 d 6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

J. J. BURKE AND A. L. ADAMS.

MATRIX CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED N0V118,1916- 1,371,221 Patented Mar. 15,1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1.1. BURKE AND A. L. ADAMS.

MATRIX CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION men NOV. 1a, 1916.

1,871,221, Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

'l HIHII H In l l ll lllllilllll v 1.]. BURKE AND A L. ADAMS.

MATRIX CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-18,1916- I 1,371,221. Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

. glue whip iz zi w w J. J. BURKE AND A. L. ADAMS.

MATRIX CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-1B, 1916.

1,371,221. Patented Mar. 15,1921.

6 SHEETSSHEET 6.

5 nuewfoz ,zzm

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. BURKE AND ARTHUR L. ADAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATRIX-CLEANING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented luar. 15 1921 Application filed November 18, 1916. Serial No. 132,019.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN J. BURKE and ARTHUR L. ADAMS, citizens of the United States, and-residents of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Matrix-Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to apparatus for cleaning matrices, such as are used/in a linotype machine, although, of course, our invention may be adapted for cleaning various other articles. As is known to those using linotype machines, the matrices frequently require cleaning to remove the foreign substances collected thereon during use in the linotype machine, so as to permit the matrices to pass freely through the channels of the magazine and secure their perfect close alinement during the operation of casting.

In the accompanying drawings, in which we have shown one embodiment of our cleaning apparatus,

Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on'the line 2-2 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 3 is a detail cross-section, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section, taken on the line l4 of Fig. 2, showing the top felt removed, and looking in the direction of the arrow,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan View of the right end of the machine shown in Fig. l with parts removed;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section of Fi 5 with parts removed;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the left side of the machine and the matrix-chute in section;

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation, taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a top view, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-section, taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the delivery receptacle;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the guideweight in the delivery receptacle;

Fig. 13 is a latch-weight for the stacker or magazine; and

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a matrix. In the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts, 1 is a stand or frame work supportin the apparatus, having loosely mounted in it shafts 2. and 3 carrying, respectively, gear-Wheels 4 and 5. The

shaft is connected by drum and belt or otherwise, with any suitable means for driv- 1ng 1t, such as an electric motor, or other motive power (see F i 7). 6 is an endless chain or belt mounte on the gears 4.- and 5 and rotating therewith. This endless chain or belt is provided with blocks 7 equally spaced thereon and carrying the springpressed pusher blocks 8 movably held in the blocks 7 by the ins 21-21 in the vertical slots shown in 1g. 6. The pusher-block 8 is held normally in a raised position by the springs 22 located between it and the bottom of the cut-out portion of the block 7. 23 is a support or guide over which the endless belt or chain 6 passes and by which it is kept from sagging, so as to maintain the pusher blocks 8 in operative contact with a matrix as it is being fed through the cleanmg pads, as hereinafter set forth.

9 is a guide supported on the frame 1 attached to the support 10 by the bolt 11 and located in position so that as the chain 6 is operated the pusher 8 contacts with the guide 9 and is compressed against the opposition of the springs 22 so that its upper surface will not project above the upper surface of the thinnest matrix which is to be cleaned.

Mounted on the frame 1 are cleaning-felt supports 13-13. holding the cleaning felts 12-12 (see Fig. 3) in position. Fixed in the frame 1 are posts 19-19 screw-threaded at their top carrying the nuts 21. These posts 19 also carry yokes 18 and 25 for supporting the cleaning felts 14 and 16, the cleaning felt 14 being carried in cleaning frames 15 fixed to the yoke 25, and the cleaning felt 16 being attached to the block 17 which is attached to the yoke 18.

20, 20 are springs mounted on the posts 19 and located between the yokes 18 and and the nuts 21 so as to keep the yokes normally pressed downward to keep the felts in contact with the matrix to be cleaned. It will be noticed that in Fig. 3. a matrix 26 is shown between the felts showing how the felts clean the upper, lower and side surfaces of the matrix.

These cleaning felts are arranged in sections. In the drawings, we have shown them arranged in two sections with a space :26 between them, the object of this arrangement being that the felts to the right of 26 are kept partially saturated with a cleaning fluid, while the felts to the left of the passage 26 are kept dry, so that the first set of felts on the right clean the matrix and the set of felts on the left dry the same.

A passage-way 8 is arranged between the, felts to permit passage of the pusher 8. as shown in Fig. 3.

In order that the saturated felts may be kept provided with a cleaning material, we have provided a cleaning-liquid reservoir 27 supported on the frame 1 by the supports 2 Leading from the reservoir 27 to a point above the felts are conduits 29, 29. Between the conduits and the reservoir there is a valve 36 -(see Fig. 4) conical in shape, Ihe movable member 31 of the valve being provided with little ducts or cavities adapted in rcccive a small quantity of the cleaning material. and then when the valve is operated. the movable member 31. of the valve rovided with ducts or cavities. rotates so as to bring the ducts or cavities adjacent to [lie conduits 29. 29. whereby the cleaning liquid is fed down through the conduits 29, 29 and drops onto the cleaning felt so as to keep same saturated as desired. The IHOV able member 31 of the valve is conically shaped. fits into a conical cavity in the valve body 31) and is held therein so as to make a tight joint by the spring 32 mounted on the valve stem between the valve body 3d d th nuts 33. 34 is a removable cap to permit the receptacle 27 to be filled.

The valve 36 is operated as follows:

Fixed on the valve stem is a gear 35 which meshes with segment 36 fixed to the rocking arm 37 pivoted to the frame 1 by pivot 38. and normally held. as shown in Fig. 1. by the spring 39. Pivoted to the lower end of the rocking arm 37 by pivot 41 is an arm =10. the opposite end of the arm being in the form of a yoke. as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. so as to be supported on the shaft 2. This yoke-arm -16 is provided with a shaft -12 carrying a roller 43 loosely mounted thereon. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 2. so as to rotate therewith. is a block 44, having on its periphery a cam 45. which cam.

coming in contact with theroller 43 on the yokc-arm 46. moves same toward the left (see Fig. 1) against the opposition of the spring 39. thereby rocking rocking-arm 37. moving segment 36 toward the right. rotating gear 35 fixed on the valve-stem. thereby operating the movable valve member 31 to feed the cleaning fluid to the conduits 29. 29.

The matrices to be cleaned are placed in the magazine or stacker 46 mounted on rollers 47, which rollers are supported on tracks 48. The magazine or stacker 46 is also provided with rollers -19 held in operative engagement with the magazine or stacker 4.6 by roller-support 50. These rollers 19 are carried between rods or tracks 51. 51 held on the frame or foundation 1 by the support 10. (See Fig. 2.)

As will be seen. the magazine or stacker 16 can be moved back and forth transversely to the machine. as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. The magazine or stacker 46 is provided with a cover 52, as shown in Fig. 4. The magazine or stacker 4:6 is provided with a series of compartments adapted to hold the matrices stacked one upon the other, as shown in Figs. 2, 4: and 5. These compartments are numbered. respectively, 53, 54; and 55.

\Vhen the desired number of matrices have been stacked in the magazine or stacker -16. a latch-weight 56 (see Fig. 13) is placed on top of the stack of matrices. This weight is provided with a latch 57 supported in the frame 58 fixed to the Weight 56 and held normally extended beyond the end of the weight. as shown in Fig. 13. by the spring 59.

As the matrices are moved out from the bottom of the stack. as hereinafter described, the latchweight 56 moves in the stacker down a distance equal to the thickness of the matrix which has been removed. hen all of the matrices have been removed from a compartment in the stacker or magazine, the latch-weight 56 is at the bottom of the compartment. the latch .57 is brought adja cent to the opening or hole 58' in the back of the magazine compartment, and as it reaches that position the spring 59 pressing the latch 57 forces it through the opening 58' and into the position where it is adapted to engage with the reciprocating member 59' fixed on the rocking arm 60 so as to move the magazine or stacker 46 to bring the next compartment into operative relation. whereby the matrices may be fed from the bottom of the compartment to and through the clean ing means, as hereinafter set forth.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 6. that the guide 9 compresses the block 8 so that it engages only one matrix. but after the block is out from under the guide, the matrix above the one engaged or if there are no more matrices in the holder, then the weight 56, holds the block 8 down so that it will not engage the upper edge of the opening in the plate 52 through which the matrices are discharged by the matrix-moving means.

This rocking-arm 60 is operated as follows:

The lower end of the rocking-arm 60 is pivoted by the pivot 61 to the support 62 at tached to the frame 1. The rocking-arm is provided with a pin 63 carrying a roller 64 (see Fig. 5) which operates in the camgroove. located on the periphery of the block 44, so that as the block 44 rotates, the groove 65 moves the roller toward and away from the frame-work, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby keeping the rocking arm 60 constantly moving back and forth so that whenever the latch 57 projects through the opening 58'. the latch member 59 engages with the latch and moves the magazine one compartment. The movement of the magazine or stacker 46 is arranged sothat it will only be moved the distance required to bring the next compartment into line with the cleaning mats. As the pusher-block .8 is brought around under the guide 9 and compressed, it contacts with the bottom matrix in a stack, moves it forward from the bottom of the stack and out between the cleaning felts, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, until it becomes disengaged from the matrix at the end of the cleaning operation, and near the top of the delivery chute, as hereinafter set forth.

In order to prevent more than one matrix from passing out of the stacker at a time, we have provided a spring-pressed stop 66 fastened to the door 52, of the stacker or magazine. As the matrix is moved out from the bottom of the stacker it presses the spring-stop 66 out, and when the end of the matrix has passed and the pusher has passed, the spring-pressed stop 66 moves back to prevent the next matrix from moving out.

It is necessary in order that the matrices be easily replaced in the linotype machine that-they be delivered on their feet, that is, the end of the matrix, shown to the right in Fig. 14. In cleaning. it is desirable that they be fed through the cleaning device with the other end first. We have, there fore, provided means for delivering the matrices and stacking them in delivery receptacles on their feet so as to be convenient for use. This delivery means we will now describe.

At the end of the dry-cleaning felts, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, we have arranged a chute 67, in the bottom of which is an opening 68 corresponding in shape and form to a matrix. On the lower side of this opening is a small shelf 69 arranged at the end of the chute, so that as the matrix passes down the chute 67 it passes across the opening until the top of the matrix strikes the end of the chute and rests on the shelf 69, and when the feet of the matrix have come adjacent to the upper end of the opening 68. it falls by gravity, as shown in Fig. 8, and the matrix is carried down to the bottom of the delivery chute feet first.

At the bottom of the chute 67 is a starwheel 70 loosely mounted on the shaft 71 (see Fig. 9). This shaft 71 is loosely mounted in the frame-work 1 and is screw-threaded at one end to engage with the screw-nut 72. Located between the screw-nut 72 and the frame 1 is a spring 73. 74 is a block keyed to the shaft 7]. by key 75. Loosely mounted on the shaft 71 is a sprocket 76 adapted to engage with the belt 77 operated by sprocket fixed to the driven shaft 3 of the apparatus. 78 is a suitable leather or friction washer, so arranged that the starwheel 70 is rotated by the rotation ofthe gear 76, the rotation of which is transmitted to the star-wheel 70 by the friction Washer 78. The friction between the gear 76 and the star-wheel 70 is regulated by operation of the nut 72 which draws the shaft 71 outward and creates a stronger spring tension between the star-wheel 70, gear 76 and the friction washer 78, whereby the starwheel isrotated.

80 is a delivery receptacle provided with shelves 81, 81, 81. This delivery receptacle 80 is movably supported on the frame 1 by the support 82 fastened to the frame 1 and carrying the vertical supports 83 engaging with the tracks 84, 84. At the bottom of the delivery receptacle 80 is an arm 85 carrying pins 86, 86 supporting a sliding door 87. the bottom of the door being held against downward motion by the support 88. Located on the outside of the delivery receptacle 80 and bolted to the casing thereof, are spring-stops 89 adapted to engage with stoparm 90 secured to the support 82. These stops 89 are provided with pins 91 which pass through openings at the back of each compartment in the delivery receptacle.

For each compartment of the delivery receptacle we provide guideweights 92, shown in Fig. 12, having a projection 93 adapted to engage and freely slide in the groove or guide-way 94 in each of the shelves 81, 81, 81, These guide-weights are held in place by plate 93 screwed to the underside thereof so as to hold the guideweights in operative relation to the shelves 81, 81, 81. \Vhen the delivery receptacle is placed in the machine, these guide-Weights are to the left of the shelves.

As the matrices pass down through the chute 67, reversing their direction of movement so as to land on their feet, the starwheel 70. rotating, moves the weight 92 back a distance equal to the thickness of the matrix, as shown in Fig. 2, until the weight has reached a point where it engages with the pin 91, and as the next matrix is put on the delivery receptacle shelf and packed by the star-wheel, the pin 91 is moved out and moves the stop 89 out of engagement with the stop-arm 90 so as to permit the delivery receptacle to drop until the stop-arm 99 engages with the next stop-pin 89, which brings the next shelf into operative relation to the star-wheel and the delivery chute.

As the delivery receptacle drops, the door 87, remaining stationary, the lower shelf, as shown in Fig. 11, is brought down a distance equal to the height of the shelf, and as it does so, the shelf passes down so that the door 87 closes the end thereof to keep the matrices in position.

The operation of our cleaning apparatus is as follows:

The magazine or stacker 46 having been filled with matrices and placed in position on the machine, power is supplied and the shaft 3 rotates, thereby rotating shaft 2 through the medium of the sprocket wheels 5 andetand also rotates shaft 71 through the endless belt 7 7 A pusher 8 is brought around under the guide 9, engages with the end of a matrix in the bottom of the stack, moves same out from under the stack, raising the stop 66 until it has cleared the stack, when the weight-latch 56 moves the stack down a distance equal to the thickness of the matrix removed and the stop 66 returns to normal position, preventing any other matrices from passing out. The matrix which has just been removed is passed between the cleaning felts 12, 14 and 16, first being cleaned by the first set of moist felts, and then dried by the second set of felts, after which it is carried to the delivery chute where the pusher 8 becomes disengaged from it and the matrix, by gravity, passes down the delivery chute 67, the forward end passing over the opening and striking against the end of the chute as it rests on the shelf 69, when the feet of the matrix pass down through the far or upper end of the opening, as shown in Fig. 8, and by gravity, the matrix reaches the bottom where it engages with the star-wheel 70. The star-wheel 70, rotating, presses the matrix forward until the lowest shelf ofthe delivery receptacle 80 has been filled, when the weight 92, engaging the pin 91, presses the pin out, releases the stop 89 from engagement with the stop-arm 90 and permits the delivery receptacle to move downward one shelf, until the stop 89 on the next above shelf, engages with the stop-arm 90 to stop further movement downward of the delivery receptacle.

As the delivery receptacle moves downward, the lower shelf passes in front of the door 87 and the matrices are held in position ready for use when the delivery receptacle is removed from the apparatus.

When all of the matrices in the first compartment of the magazine or stacker 46 are removed, the weight 56, having reached the bottom of the compartment, the latch 57 passes through the opening 58, and engages with the latch member 59'. The rocking-arm 60 moves the magazine to the right of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. i, a distance so as to bring the next compartment into operative relation with the cleaning felts. l/Vhilc this is being done, the rotation of the shaft 2 operates yoke-arm 40 through cam 45, roller 43 to rock rocking-arm 37 against opposition of the spring 39, thereby moving segment 36 to rotate gear 35 so as to revolve the valve stem and feed a given quantity of cleaning liquid to the cleaning felts.

f course, modifications and changes can readily be made by any one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. In a matrix-cleaning device, matrixmoving means and a cleaning member comprising a pad having an opening through which a matrix may be passed for cleaning and a slot for said moving means and communicating with said opening.

2. In a matrix-cleaning device, matrixmoving means and a cleaning member comprising a pad having an opening through which a matrix may be passed for cleaning and a slot communicating with said opening, said moving means comprising an endless belt with projections extending through said slot and into said opening.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

JOHN J. BURKE. ARTHUR L. ADAMS 

